School violence allegations surface against YouTuber Park Wi as classmates step in to defend him

Amid the backlash YouTuber Park Wi has faced since releasing footage of a wheelchair fall on a KTX train, anonymous allegations of school violence have now emerged online — prompting his former high school classmates to come forward and rebuff the claims.

Online communities and social media platforms were flooded Saturday with posts raising allegations about Park's school days.

The controversy began with comments left on YouTube by users claiming to be Park's classmates from Yongsan High School. They alleged that "word had gotten around" that he had returned to school after being released from a juvenile detention facility, and that one person had suffered injuries requiring four weeks of medical treatment after being assaulted by Park during his second year of high school.

However, none of the commenters provided objective evidence to verify that they had actually attended the same school as Park. No supporting materials have been confirmed for the alleged school violence or the claimed juvenile detention record, either.

Despite the lack of verification, screenshots of the comments spread rapidly online, fueling broader allegations about Park's past conduct and character.

Counter-claims soon followed. One user who identified themselves as a Yongsan High School classmate said they had visited Park in the hospital when he was diagnosed with full-body paralysis, describing him as someone "completely removed from anything like school violence or bullying."

The same user added that around 40 of Park's high school classmates had visited him in the hospital after his accident left him paralyzed, arguing, "If Wi had done something wrong, would that many people really have come to see him when he was so badly hurt?"

Another user claiming to be a classmate also pushed back, saying Park "had it all during his school days — character, humility, intelligence and athletic ability" and that "he was the kind of person who looked out for even the most overlooked student in the class."

Park first gained public attention after being diagnosed with full-body paralysis following an accidental fall, and began documenting his rehabilitation on his YouTube channel, Wiracel.

He married Song Ji-eun, a former member of the K-pop group Secret, in October 2024, and has since expanded his public profile through TV variety programs, speaking engagements and public service ambassador roles. He recently found himself at the center of controversy after posting CCTV footage of a wheelchair fall he suffered while disembarking from a KTX train to his YouTube channel.

Online users criticized the public release of footage showing a social service worker's mistake as excessive. Following the backlash, Park deleted the video and issued an apology, saying he was "sorry for disappointing so many people." He and his wife also stepped down from their roles as Seoul Metropolitan Government public relations ambassadors.